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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Build an early lead Joey Rickard Jersey , get five good innings out of the starter and bring in the bullpen.The Milwaukee Brewers used that formula to win 11 straight games going into the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.Clayton Kershaw could be the ace that finally puts a stop to the streak.The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner will start for Los Angeles in Game 1 on Friday night at Miller Park.“We know we’re not going to get a ton of opportunities” against Kershaw and Dodgers starting pitching, outfielder Ryan Braun said. “So we’ve talked about the importance of cashing in on the opportunities we do get.”Once the Brewers take a lead, they’re hard to beat. Good luck getting to their lights-out bullpen.Milwaukee’s 3.47 ERA in relief was second in the NL only to the Chicago Cubs. The bullpen went 2-0 with a save and a 1.17 ERA in the three-game Division Series sweep Colorado.Corey Knebel can come in as soon as the fifth, usually lights-out left-hander Josh Hader in just about situation and Jeremy Jeffress in the late innings. All three relievers are capable of closing.Knebel and Hader are making their postseason debuts, while Jeffress’ playoff experience before this year was limited to just one inning in 2016 with Texas.“I thought it was going to be a lot different,” Knebel said Thursday of the playoffs. “The first time I came in, I felt the same surprisingly. … Hey’s it’s just another game. That’s all it is. You just want to keep playing ball.”The spotlight probably won’t faze the Dodgers, who are in a third straight NLCS for the first time in franchise history. The strategy at the plate doesn’t change, either, just because Milwaukee’s relievers are so good.Knebel, Hader and Jeffress, along with righty Joakim Soria, appeared in all three games against Colorado spread out over four days.The NLCS is best-of-seven, with the first four games over five days, so bullpen usage could differ.“When you’re talking about a seven-game series,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “having those guys go to their ‘pen and taxing them and beating the starter, there’s still a lot of value in that.”Chasing the starter will require building an early lead that might require the Brewers to dip into his bullpen earlier or more often than planned.“If they go bullpen game, like they did against the Rockies http://www.oriolesfanproshop.com/authentic-j.j.-hardy-jersey , it’s a seven-game set,” Dodgers infielder Max Muncy said. “It’s more games you’re putting stress on the bullpen.”Other notes and things to watch:UNFINISHED BUSINESSPressure in the NLCS? Maybe not for the Dodgers, who lost Game 7 of the World Series to the Houston Astros a year ago. Now that’s pressure.“We want to finish off what we didn’t finish off last year. That’s been their focus since after that Game 7,” Roberts said. “We’re in a position right now where we can give ourselves an opportunity to get back there.”MVP WATCHOutfielder Christian Yelich, making his postseason debut, hit .250 with a homer and two RBIs with two steals in the NLDS. The smooth-hitting left-hander went on a tear in the second half, hitting .367 after the All-Star break with 25 homers to help lift the Brewers to the NL Central crown.When the series shifts to Dodger Stadium next week, the southern California native will be playing in a park where he used to watch games as a child .START IT UPNo bullpen day to open up the series for the Brewers. Milwaukee is going with left-hander Gio Gonzalez to oppose Kershaw in Game 1 on Friday night. For Gonzalez, it has been quite a rebound since being acquired in a deal with the Washington Nationals, going 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts with Milwaukee.“So to sit here, and I’m pitching Game 1 of the second round, I think it’s remarkable, pretty incredible,” Gonzalez said, “and hopefully I get to tell my kids about this one day.”An 11-year veteran, Gonzalez is 4-1 with a 1.89 ERA in six career starts against the Dodgers.CY KERSHAWOne of the toughest left-handers in baseball, Kershaw (9-5, 2.73) hasn’t been quite as good in his career in the NLCS. He is 2-4 with a 4.65 ERA in five career starts in this round.BACK WHERE IT STARTEDThe NLCS will begin in the park where All-Star Manny Machado made his Dodgers’ debut. After Machado was acquired at the All-Star break from the Orioles, the Dodgers opened up the second half of the season at Miller Park.Machado has hit .273 with 13 homers and 42 RBIs in 66 games with the Dodgers.“It made it a lot easier knowing I was just another piece to this ballclub Tim Beckham Jersey ,” Machado said. “This ballclub could have made it just as easily without me.” KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — When Ronald Acuna Jr. returned to the Atlanta clubhouse, Braves star Freddie Freeman playfully told the NL Rookie of the Year there still was work to do.“You should have kept going,” Freeman kidded, “and gone for the cycle.”Acuna went 3 for 3 with a long home run and double off St. Louis opening day starter Miles Mikolas in Atlanta’s 5-0 exhibition win Tuesday. Good enough that former Braves great Dale Murphy sheepishly asked Acuna for his autograph, demonstrating the stature the 21-year-old outfielder has achieved after less than a full season in the big leagues.“I’ve felt good from the day we started camp, but as the games progressed I’ve felt even better,” Acuna said through a translator. “I think with these last at-bats, just a little extra patience has gone into it. I’ve had good at-bats even if the results weren’t what we would have wanted, but things are progressing quickly and we kind of see the results now.”Acuna hit .293 with 26 home runs in 111 games last year, helping the Braves win the NL East after four straight losing seasons. His three homers are among nine hits in 25 at-bats this spring.The Braves open the season March 28 at Philadelphia. Last year, Acuna was not brought up to the majors until April 25.“I’ve been anxious for the season to start since we got here to camp. I’ve felt ready, I’ve been wanting this to happen,” he said. “When the season starts is out of my control. All I can control is how I go about my business.”AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUES:ASTROS SUSPENSIONInjured Houston pitcher Francis Martes has been suspended for 80 games following a positive test for the banned performance-enhancing drug Clomiphene. The 23-year-old righty made his major league debut in 2017 and went 5-2 with a 5.80 ERA in four starts and 28 relief appearances for the Astros, striking out 69 and walking 31 in 54 1/3 innings. He had Tommy John surgery last August and was expected to miss most or all of this season.NATIONALS 5, ASTROS 3Carter Kieboom homered twice against Houston’s Justin Verlander. Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg allowed two runs and five hits, struck out six and walked four in 4 2/3 innings.Verlander was charged with four runs and six hits in five innings.YANKEES 8, ORIOLES 7Aaron Judge, Brett Gardner and Kyle Higashioka homered for New York http://www.oriolesfanproshop.com/authentic-j.j.-hardy-jersey , and Miguel Andujar had three hits. Aroldis Chapman struck out one and walked one during a scoreless fifth inning.GIANTS 4, BREWERS 2, 5 INNINGSSan Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner pitched five innings of two-run ball. He struck out four and walked none.Brandon Belt homered for the Giants, and Gerardo Parra had two hits.Yasmani Grandal had two hits for Milwaukee. Zach Davies allowed four runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings.REDS (SS) 12, CUBS 3Cincinnati right-hander Tyler Mahle struck out five while pitching three scoreless innings. Kyle Farmer, Connor Joe and Courtney Hawkins homered for the Reds.Cubs right-hander Tyler Chatwood walked three in 1 1/3 innings. He was charged with two earned runs and two hits.BRAVES 5, CARDINALS 0Rookie Bryse Wilson, bidding for a spot in the Braves’ rotation, gave up one hit and struck out five in four innings. Mikolas was knocked around for five runs and eight hits in five innings.MARLINS 8, METS 1Miami starter Trevor Richards pitched five shutout innings and struck out six.NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom allowed two runs — on a homer by Brian Anderson — in five innings. He struck out six in his fourth spring start.Tim Tebow was reassigned to minor league camp by the Mets after hitting .267 with one RBI in eight spring training games. The 31-year-old outfielder and former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback is expected to start the season at Triple-A Syracuse.TIGERS 4, RED SOX 3Jody Mercer hit a two-run homer off Boston’s David Price. Detroit starter Daniel Norris threw three scoreless innings. Closer Shane Greene pitched a perfect fourth inning.Blake Swihart had an RBI double in Boston’s three-run ninth.TWINS 10, PIRATES 4Tyler Austin homered and singled and Jorge Polanco had an RBI double for Minnesota.Jameson Taillon, set to pitch on opening day for Pittsburgh, made his first spring training start and allowed three runs and five hits in four innings.RAYS 2, BLUE JAYS 1Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez gave up one hit in four shutout innings. Teoscar Hernandez singled, scored and is batting .520 for the Blue Jays.Joey Wendle doubled in a run and scored for Tampa Bay. Kevin Kiermaier singled in the other Rays run.